Income Tax dept moves Madras High Court against AR Rahman for alleged tax evasion

In alleged tax evasion charges filed by the Income Tax department in Chennai High Court, Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman has been sent a notice alleging that he routed his income of an amount of more than Rs. 3 crore through his charitable trust, A R Rahman Foundation. As per sources, the singer-composer received Rs 3.47 crore from UK-Based mobile company Libra in 2010-2011, for composing their ringtone. It has been alleged that as per the contract, Rahman had instructed the company to pay his remuneration directly into the foundation managed by him.

Read | 8 takeaways from AR Rahman’s livestream with Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am

Read | Things to learn from AR Rahman's masterclass on music with Arijit Singh; Read more

As per reports, Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice V Bhavani Subbaroyan ordered the notice on the behest of the Income Tax department after they found irregularities in Rahman's tax returns for the assessment year 2011-2012. Senior counsel T R Senthil Kumar, who represented the IT department, revealed that the income received by Rahman from his international project was transferred to his charitable trust without deduction of the due taxes. A response to the charges made by the IT department is expected to be filed by A R Rahman soon.

Read | AR Rahman says California's wildfire makes 'skies look scarier than Blade Runner 2049'

Read | AR Rahman and Gulzar's hit collaborations: From 'Jai Ho' to 'Ok Jaanu', here's a list